Tag: Adventure

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Movie Review

Lassie (2005) Movie Review

Lassie – Movie Review

Lassie

Director: Charles Sturridge

Writer: Eric Knight, Charles Sturridge (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A family in financial crisis is forced to sell Lassie, their beloved dog. Hundreds of miles away from her true family, Lassie escapes and sets out on a journey home.

Runtime: 1 Hour 40 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Lassie starts when the Carraclough family Sam (Lynch), Sarah (Morton) and Joe (Mason) reluctantly agree to sell their pet dog Lassie. The Duke (O’Toole) struggles to control the dog and after moving across the country tries to start a fresh life there.

However, Lassie isn’t going to abandon her owners and decides to travel across the land to get home. Along the way, she meets people in need and helps bring the best out of people. All while being chased down by the Duke and his men.

Verdict on Lassie

Lassie is an adventure comedy following the legendary dog travelling across the land helping people. She is in search of her own home but must overcome the odds in search of her original owners.

Lassie is the iconic family adventure character who has helped people love pets every day. While this doesn’t bring much new to the formula, it keeps the loyal nature of the movie. It is pure and enjoyable throughout as we see the challenges Lassie must overcome. We get a strong cast too, including award winners from different walks of life.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Lassie is an enjoyable adventure family movie.

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Movie Review

Bookworm (2024) FrightFest 2024 Movie Review

Bookworm – FrightFest 2024 Movie Review

Uncover the mystery of the Canterbury Panther in Bookworm. Read our movie review and join Mildred on a thrilling journey with her estranged father.

Director: Ant Timpson

Writer: Toby Harvard, Ant Timpson (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: 11-year-old Mildred’s world is turned upside down when her estranged father, the washed-up magician Strawn Wise, comes to look after her and agrees to take her camping to find a mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.

Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Bookworm starts when young Mildred’s (Fisher) world is turned upside down when her mother has an accident. Her estranged father Strawn Wise (Wood) comes to care for her and agrees to her camping. Strawn decides to help Mildred search for the Canterbury Panther, knowing the bounty for capturing would clear their debts.

However, the journey brings the estranged father and daughter closer as they explore the New Zealand countryside. Even if their journey takes a surprise series of twists it becomes an adventure neither were prepared for.

Verdict on Bookworm

Bookworm is an adventure comedy following an estranged father taking his daughter on a camping trip. They go in search of the Canterbury Panther but end up discovering something far more valuable.

This movie takes on a wild adventure that feels a lot like a calmer version of ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’. The performances from Elijah Wood and Nell Fisher are outstanding being the heart and soul of the movie. It is a delightful adventure about two estranged family members getting to know each other. There are laughs when needed and serious moments that bring the pair closer.

Where to Watch

Bookworm is available on Digital Platforms 11 November. Distributed by Signature Entertainment.

Final Thoughts –Bookworm is a delightful, charming adventure.

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Movie Review

Mia and Me: The Hero of Centopia (2022) Movie Review

Mia and Me: The Hero of Centopia – Movie Review

The Hero of Centopia

Director: Adam Gunn

Writer: Tess Meyer, Gerhard Hahn (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Mia discovers her magic stone is part of an ancient prophecy and embarks on a thrilling journey to the farthest islands of Centopia to face a great evil, and shape her own destiny.

Runtime: 1 Hour 25 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Mia and Me: The Hero of Centopia starts as a magical kingdom of Centopia comes under attack from Toxor. The fairies must figure out how to stop them, with Nino needing to fight to save them. meanwhile, in the human world, Mia (Nuccetelli) is still recovering from the loss of her parents.

She has dived into a fantasy world to escape reality and finds herself transported to Centopia. Here, she joins the fairies in battle being the one who was always meant to defend the kingdom.

Verdict on Mia and Me: The Hero of Centopia

Mia and Me: The Hero of Centopia is a fantasy adventure movie following a human girl transported to a fantasy kingdom. She gets involved in a war between good and evil as she must lead the fairies in a battle against the evil coming for them.

When it comes to family-friendly adventures, this is everything you would expect. We get a strong leading character filled with characters that need the motivation to achieve greatness. It might not do anything original, but it works for the continuing adventures of Mia.

Final Thoughts – Mia and Me: The Hero of Centopia is a fun family-friendly adventure.

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Movie Review

Lassie: A New Adventure (2023) Movie Review

Lassie A New Adventure – Movie Review

Discover the exciting new adventure of Lassie, the brave Collie dog, as she investigates the mysterious disappearances of pedigree dogs.

Director: Hanno Olderdissen

Writer: Andreas Cordes (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Collie dog protagonist Lassie investigate the mysterious disappearances of several pedigree dogs, with the help of best friend Flo and new companions Henri, Kleo and little Pippa, a Jack Russell Terrier.

Runtime: 1 Hour 31 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Lassie A New Adventure starts when Flo (Marischka) and Lassie head to his Aunt Cosima’s (Schuttler) for a vacation. He joins adopted siblings Kleo (Gualano), Henri (Staacken) and Jack Russell Pippa. They discover the local area has been getting targeted by dog nappers.

When Pippa is stolen, Flo feels guilty, and Lassie decides to lead the hunt for the missing dogs. Flo and Kleo must put aside their differences to track down the dog nappers and save the pets of the village.

Verdict on Lassie A New Adventure

Lassie A New Adventure is a family adventure movie following the continued adventures of the popular four-legged friend. She must prevent a dog napping ring this time and save the stolen dogs for the local area.

This movie continues the journey of everybody’s favourite border collie. It shows how smart she is, as she searches for a solution to save missing dogs. The dog nappers feel like they are from Pokémon and like Team Rocket with their plans. It continues the good nature tale while having a human story about children struggling to deal with loss.

Where to Watch

Lassie: A New Adventure will be coming to Digital 15th July

Final Thoughts – Lassie A New Adventure is a welcome addition to the legacy of the character.

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Movie Review

The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms (2024) Movie Review

The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms – Movie Review

Discover the mystical adventure of 'Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms' as a grandfather and granddaughter navigate a mystical land through a portal stone.

Director: Zack Ward

Writer: Zack Ward (Screenplay)

Writer: James Hong, Ace Underhill (Story)

Cast

Plot: A grandfather and curio shop owner in a small town in Arizona and his granddaughter are transported to a mystical land through a portal stone and have to find their way back.

Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms starts when high school student Patsy Lee (Mao) accidentally find themselves in possession of an ancient box. She turns to her grandfather Chuck Lee (Hong) to learn what it is about. However, Hank (Sheridan) and Frank (Basco) want it back.

When Patsy and Chuck class with the hapless henchmen, they are transported to a mythical land. Patsy’s friends Squirrel (Harr) and Hopper (Sato) get trapped with them in a world they never imagined. However, the mythical world is filled with dangers they must overcome to return home.

Verdict on The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms

The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms is a fantasy adventure following a group of high school students who find themselves taken to a mystical kingdom. They must use their newly discovered knowledge to survive the threats and escape the land. It is filled with challenges that must be overcome.

This movie takes us to a new fantasy world with many different problems. Each threat could bring bigger issues to the group and learning to deal with a fantasy world works extremely well. It is told in a fun way, without unleashing every possible threat, teasing plenty for a potential return adventure. This is a good 2 hours of entertainment and you can enjoy the characters’ adventure.

Where to Watch

The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms (VOD Release 6/18/24)

Final Thoughts – The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms is an enjoyable adventure movie.

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Movie Review

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) Movie Review

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – ABC Film Challenge – Action – K (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) – Movie Review

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – ABC Film Challenge – Action – K (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) - Movie Review

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writer: David Koepp (Screenplay)

Writer: George Lucas, Jeff Nathanson (Story)

Cast

Plot: In 1957, Indiana Jones becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.

Runtime: 2 Hours 2 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull starts when Indiana (Ford) finds himself forced into helping KGB agent Irina Spalko (Blanchett). He finds himself betrayed by his close friend Mac (Winstone) and loses his job.

Mutt Williams (LaBeouf) approaches Indiana with information about his mother and information that could lead to an artefact Indiana has been searching for. This leads to the pair heading to Peru and meeting up with old friends and old enemies along the way.

Verdict on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the fourth adventure of Indiana Jones. It follows Indiana as he goes in search of a mysterious skull that contains great power. He faces up against a ruthless explorer and her army who want the power for themselves.

This might well be the weakest of all of the original four Indiana Jones movies, but you can still have a lot of fun with it. The jokes about the age work on some levels, despite us getting another movie nearly another 15 years later. While the adventure itself is filled with clues, hints and mystery. It offers everything you want from an adventure movie and keeps us wanting more. The bigger named cast gets to have a lot of fun on the adventure too.

Final Thoughts – Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull keeps the adventure going.

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Movie Review

Four Kids and It (2020) Movie Review

Four Kids and It – Movie Review

Four Kids and It

Director: Andy De Emmony

Writer: Simon Lewis (Screenplay)

Writer: Jacqueline Wilson (Book)

Cast

Plot: A group of kids on holiday in Cornwall meet a magical creature on the beach with the power to grant wishes.

Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Four Kids and It starts when David (Goode) and his children Ros (Malleson-Allen) and Robbie (Jenkins) are going on a vacation. However, they are meeting his new girlfriend Alice (Patton) and her children Smash (Aufderheide) and Maude (Siame). It sees the children clash instantly, putting the adult’s relationship on the line.

The kids end up finding a remote beach where they meet Psammead, who claims it can give them one wish a day. However, the wish only lasts until sundown. The kids must learn about the consequences of their wishes as their lives will be changing forever.

Verdict on Four Kids and It

Four Kids and It is a family adventure movie following two families that are forced to spend a vacation together. This sees the children clashing, as the parents try to give them space to bond. However, deep down everyone is preparing for a new stage in life.

This continues the heartfelt message the movie looks to give everyone involved. It shows that families can go separate ways and need to learn to adapt to come together to start new ones. When it comes to the wishes, we get the fun wacky ones you would expect children to put forward. While the older kids would try to fix something out of their control. This brings the fun we would have come to expect from the source material. The performances are fun too, with the four young stars coming together to show the difficult life change their characters are going through.

Final Thoughts – Four Kids and It is a fun family adventure movie.

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Movie Review

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) Movie Review

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco – Movie Review

Lost in San Francisco

Director: David R Ellis

Writer: Chris Hauty, Julie Hickson (Screenplay)

Writer: Sheila Burnford (Novel)

Cast (Voice Talents)

Plot: When adventurous pets Chance, Shadow, and Sassy are accidentally separated from their vacationing humans, they’re left to fend for themselves on the mean streets of San Francisco, searching for the “golden bridge” that will take them home.

Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco starts when Chance, Sassy and Shadow learn they are going on a family vacation. However, Chance gets restless and escapes his airport cage, leading to the three missing the plane. They look to return home, which sees them travelling around San Francisco.

Meanwhile, dog catchers are searching for any dog to take. Elsewhere, the three pets meet fellow strays as Chance starts to wonder if his owner still has a place for him. They must travel through the big city in hopes of finding their home and avoiding the people chasing them.

Verdict on Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco is a continuing family adventure. This time the three pets find themselves lost in the big city. Here they face different threats from rival dogs and dog catchers all to return to their owners.

This movie is just as fun as the original, only using the new setting perfectly. It shows the darker world that strays would need to live in. The threats continue to show the peril the pets find themselves in. This continues to be fun and one everyone can enjoy.

Final Thoughts –Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco is just as enjoyable as the first movie.

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Movie Review

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) Movie Review

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey – ABC Film Challenge – H – Homeward Bound The Incredible Journey – Movie Review

Homeward Bound

Director: Duwayne Dunham

Writer: Sheila Burnford (Novel), Caroline Thompson, Linda Woolverton (Screenplay)

Cast (Voice Talents)

Plot: A fun-loving American bulldog pup, a hilarious Himalayan cat, and a wise old golden retriever embark on a long trek through the rugged wilderness of the Sierra Nevada mountains in a quest to reach home and their beloved owners.

Runtime: 1 Hour 24 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey starts when American Bulldog pup Chance, Himalayan Cat Sassy and an old Golden Retriever Shadow get dropped off at a farm by their family. They aren’t ready to leave their family behind and end up going on an adventure across the country to find their owners.

This sees the unlikely threesome going on an adventure of a lifetime. They learn how to adapt to the surrounding area and battle nature to make it to their destination.

Verdict on Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is an adventure family movie. It follows the three domesticated pets that must travel across America in search of their owners. Along the way, they meet plenty of different threats in the wild as they must put their difference aside to survive.

This gets to give us laughs along the way, making it an enjoyable family movie. It shows how the animals want to be with their family and will do anything to get back to them. This gets to show the dangers in the wild for domestic animals. The journey is amazing and the loyalty shown by the pets is brilliant. This ends up being a fun enjoyable movie for everyone to enjoy.

Final Thoughts –Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a fun enjoyable family movie.